Chapter 1: Poor, Dumped, and Suddenly Rich
Seoul, South Korea – July 2, 2025
Rain splattered against the window of a run-down coffee shop tucked between luxury department stores in Gangnam. Inside, Jiwoo Kim sat silently, his hands tightly gripping a half-empty paper cup. His delivery jacket dripped water onto the tiled floor, his breath shallow. He'd rushed here from his third job of the day, pedaling uphill through storm winds just to make it in time.
Across from him, his girlfriend—former girlfriend—sat perfectly dry and composed.
"I'm sorry, Jiwoo. But this isn't working anymore," she said, adjusting the expensive scarf around her neck.
Jiwoo blinked slowly. "You mean because I'm poor."
She didn't respond immediately. That silence was louder than a confession.
"It's not just that. You try hard, I know you do… but we're on different levels. You deliver chicken for a living. I'm going to law school next year. My parents think I'm wasting time with you."
Jiwoo forced a smile, even as his stomach twisted. "So… I'm not good enough."
"You're not. I don't want to live like this forever, Jiwoo. I want more." She stood, taking her designer bag. "Please don't contact me again. I need to move on."
She left without a second glance.
For a moment, Jiwoo sat still, staring at the table. His hands trembled, not from the cold, but from something deeper. A sadness too familiar, and a shame he couldn't fight.
He had been alone since he was 16. His parents died in a car accident, leaving behind a stack of debt. He worked nonstop to survive. Studied when he could. Ate convenience store ramen three times a day. But he still believed that hard work would one day pay off.
Apparently, that wasn't good enough for love.
Jiwoo exited the café into the storm. The wind slapped his face as if mocking his pain. He walked aimlessly down the street, ignoring the flashing lights, honking cars, and curious stares. Just one more failure. Just one more broken dream.
As he crossed the footbridge over the Han River, he paused. Rain pelted his jacket as he stared out over the water.
"What am I even doing anymore…" he whispered.
That's when it happened.
DING!
A chime echoed in his ears. He looked around, confused, until a glowing blue screen suddenly materialized in the air in front of him.
> [SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
User: Jiwoo Kim (Age: 20)
Status: Registered as primary host.
Unique Wealth Management System initializing...
Linking bank account…
Balance before: ₩3,290 ($2.40)
Transferring funds…
TRANSFER COMPLETE.
New Balance: $999,000,000,000,000.00 (USD)
Jiwoo stared at the numbers.
He rubbed his eyes.
Then blinked again.
The zeros were still there.
"Nine… hundred… ninety-nine trillion?" he said aloud in disbelief.
His phone buzzed. The banking app lit up with a single message:
> INCOMING TRANSFER: +$999,000,000,000,000.00 USD
Your account has been updated.
He gasped, nearly dropping the phone. His heart pounded.
Another message appeared.
> [You are now the wealthiest human in recorded history.]
[This system will assist you in living your best life.]
[There are no enemies, no threats, and no time limits.]
[Your journey will be peaceful, luxurious, and free.]
Jiwoo leaned back against the bridge railing, stunned. His soaked hair clung to his forehead. His lips trembled. Just minutes ago, he had felt like nothing.
And now… he had more money than the world's top billionaires combined.
Another line appeared:
> [Revenge is best served silently. Let them regret. You will never need to prove yourself with words.]
He smiled.
Not out of arrogance, but relief.
No more deliveries. No more ramen. No more begging landlords for extensions or skipping meals so he could afford textbooks.
No more being looked down upon.
Jiwoo walked home through the rain, each step heavier with thought and lighter with hope. He didn't need to call Seyeon back. She would find out eventually. Everyone would.
But he wasn't going to gloat.
He wasn't going to shout.
He was going to live—truly live.
Quietly. Elegantly. Peacefully.
---
Two days later, Jiwoo stood in front of a mirror in a luxurious penthouse overlooking Namsan Tower. He had purchased it anonymously through the system, using a ghost shell company. His name wouldn't appear on any public records.
He wore a white turtleneck and charcoal coat tailored in Milan, boots handcrafted in Tokyo. Everything about him was refined, clean, and calm.
A soft chime rang again.
> [Style Upgrade: Completed]
[Social Presence Calibration: Set to "Mystery Gentleman"]
[Next Module Unlocked: Lifestyle Expansion – Inner Circle Selection]
Would you like to begin creating your Harem?
(Reminder: Harem is non-sexual by default. You may invite kind, loyal women into your peaceful daily life. All decisions must be made with consent and harmony.)
Jiwoo chuckled.
"I guess even the system believes I deserve better now."
He wasn't angry anymore.
He didn't need to be.
Let Seyeon chase her "perfect" match. Let her wonder one day why her ex vanished from the slums and reappeared on every magazine cover in a suit, sipping tea beside the mayor's daughter or the CEO of a global firm.
Jiwoo wouldn't chase fame or revenge.
He would let the world come to him.
And maybe, just maybe, he'd create something more powerful than wealth:
A family built on care. A circle of women who valued peace, kindness, and sincerity over status.
The system chimed one last time that night.
> Welcome, Jiwoo Kim. Your peaceful empire begins now.